Performance Overview of the INSPIRE Scheme The Ministry of Science & Technology, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, presented detailed statistics for the three financial years 2023‑24, 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 . The data cover the four major components – INSPIRE‑MANAK , INSPIRE‑SHE , INSPIRE Fellowship and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship . The scheme aims to nurture scientific talent from school to research. Key Developments (2023‑26) Overall students participated in INSPIRE‑MANAK rose from 8.55 lakh (2023‑24) to 11.47 lakh (2025‑26) , covering 719 to 729 districts. Number of schools involved increased from 2.24 lakh to 2.75 lakh over the same period. Targeted outreach in rural and government schools led to a steady rise in participation from remote districts. State‑wise support peaked in Andhra Pradesh (≈ 4.5 k MANAK beneficiaries in 2023‑24) , Rajasthan (≈ 6.8 k) and Uttar Pradesh (≈ 7.2 k) . Special focus districts – Palnadu , Nabarangpur and Bulandshahr received detailed monitoring. Important Facts & Figures INSPIRE‑MANAK : - 2023‑24: 8,54,553 students, 2,24,283 schools, 719 districts. - 2024‑25: 10,13,229 students, 2,53,459 schools, 723 districts. - 2025‑26: 11,47,343 students, 2,74,528 schools, 729 districts. State‑wise snapshot (2023‑24 to 2025‑26): - Andhra Pradesh : MANAK beneficiaries 4,530 → 3,424; SHE scholarships 0 → 0; Fellowships 35 → 22; Faculty Fellowships 1 → 6. - Uttar Pradesh : MANAK 1,940 → 7,173; SHE 3,297 → 5,474; Fellowships 56 → 64; Faculty Fellowships 11 → 15. District‑level data (selected districts): - Palnadu : MANAK participants 111 → 163; SHE – none. - Nabarangpur : MANAK participants 149 → 72; SHE – none. - Bulandshahr : MANAK 20 → 140; SHE 13 → 7. Outreach mechanisms include regular meetings with State and District Nodal Officers, teacher‑training workshops, multimedia campaigns, and mentorship through ATLs . Selected students receive ₹10,000 for prototype development, mentorship from IIT/NIT faculty, and support for patent filing and incubation. UPSC Relevance The scheme illustrates how the government operationalises its science & technology policy (GS3) by creating a talent pipeline, promoting inclusive innovation, and linking education with research. Understanding the structure of INSPIRE‑MANAK and the scholarship/fellowship components helps answer questions on skill‑development programmes, rural outreach, and inter‑ministerial coordination (GS2). The data also serve as a case study for evaluating the effectiveness of centrally‑funded schemes. Way Forward Strengthen monitoring by integrating real‑time dashboards for district‑level performance. Expand mentorship networks with more premier institutions and industry partners. Introduce a dedicated grant for prototype commercialization to translate ideas into startups. Continue focused outreach in underserved districts like Nabarangpur to bridge the urban‑rural gap. Overall, the INSPIRE Scheme demonstrates a systematic approach to building India’s scientific manpower, a key agenda for the nation’s future growth.